Interconvertible couch-bed.



Patented Apr. I, |902.

A. E. KENNEY.

INTERCDNVERTIBLE COUCH ABED.

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HQE ASEE: tzi: @EEE @MIDE OEE @EEE No. 696,449. Patented Ahr. I, |902. A. E. KENNEY.

, mTERconvEnTlBLE coucH BED.

(Application mea Apr. 1, won

(No Model.)

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ALPHONSO E. KENNEY, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

INTERCUNVERTIBLE COUCl-lnBiED.

srnctrrcnroit forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,449, dated April 1, 1902.

Application filed April 1, 1901.

T0 all whom. it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, ALPHoNso E. KENNEY, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Interconvertible Couch-Beds, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a light, simple, and cheap metallic couch or bed convertible from one form to the other by the horizontal movement of lateral wings or eX- tensions which when spread broaden the supporting-surface for use as a bed and when contracted slide beneath and reinforce the edges of the permanent couch-surface.

My improvements are embodied in a couch or bed having a longitudinal frame mounted on legs and a supporting fabric, preferably a metallic network with springs, stretched between the end rails of the frame, which rails and fabric extend outwardly in a higher plane beyond the sides of the longitudinal framebars, in combination with laterally-movable Wings formed of a double series of upright tapering coil-springs connected at top to each otherand at bottom to parallel angle-iron bars mounted on movable supporting-brackets having suitable guides and stops, such wings being thus adapted to slide inwardly as a reinforce immediately beneath the sides of the main fabric and also to move outwardly, forming lateral extensions of supporting-surface adjoining such sides. The movements of these wings are effected by two levers projecting at one end of the couch or bed and extending beneath the central fabric to connect each with a push-rod secured to the middle of the angle-iron bars.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan of my improved couch-bed; Fig. 2, an end elevation thereof; and Fig. 3, a cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig. l looking toward the foot, the wings being closed. Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation showing the foot portion of the structure. Fig. 5 is a detail of the guide and stop plate.

The frame, as here illustrated, is made up of the tubular longitudinal rails l0 and end rails 11, permanently connected by the rigid castings 12, which have each a horizontal lower part fitting within the end of rail 10 and Serial No. 53,815. (No model.)

an upright body terminating in a curved part tting on and secured firmly to the end rail 11, thereby held at the` proper distance above the longitudinal rails. This arrangement is similar to the construction shown and claimed in my Patent No. 549,370, dated November 5, 1895. The linked-wire fabric 13, connected by ranges of springs 14 and terminal metal plates 9 to the end rails 11, forms a suitable supportingsurface for the couch or permanent central part of the bed. The frame is mounted on legs l5, secured to the side or end rails, as may be preferred. At the sides of this central fabric are the horizontally-movable wings or extensions, each composed of two connected parallel angle-iron bars 16, nearly equal in length with the tubular rails 10, and a series of upright spiral coil-springs 17, arranged in two rows, the reduced base of each spring being riveted to one of the bars 16 and their enlarged top coils connected to each other and to a stout continuous outside marginal wire 24, forming a defined boundary for the wings. Each wing is supported on a Apeculiar metallic bracket 18 and connected to the frame-rail 10 by a novel guide and stop 19, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 5. This bracket is approximately a rightsangled triangle in outline and is formed of a continuous strip of iron or steel having an oblique bracing part, a vertical supporting part, and a horizontal upper part, which slides in and out through an elongated slot 2() in the stop plate 19, secured to the adjacent frame-rail l0. The angle-bars 16, one of them inverted, are riveted to the upper outer corner of the bracket, (which may be offset, as shown,) and the springs 17 are supported in proper position thereon. A caster wheel at foot of bracket 18 eases the lateral movement of the wings, and at the junction of the oblique and horizontal parts the stop prevents too great outward movement; but the slot in the guideplate permits free inward movement as the springs slide under the margins of the central fabric.

The lateral movement of the wings is best effected by the levers 2l, projecting aty one end beneath the head-rail 11, each fulcrumed on a cross-piece 22, connecting the tubular rails 10, and cach pivoted to a push-rod 23, eX.-

ICO

able longitudinal frame and ahorizontal supporting fabric stretched between the end rails of the frame and overhanging the side rails thereof, in combination with horizontallymovable lateral wings adapted to move inwardly beneath the overhanging sides of said fabric, to reinforce it, and outwardly, by a reverse horizontal movement, to form marginal extensions adjoining but disconnected from such sides, substantially as set forth.

2. In an interconvertible couch-bed, a central structure having side rails, elevated end rails and a horizontal supporting fabric connected to the ends and overhanging the sides of the frame, in combination with lateral Wings having connected longitudinal bars, a series of tapering upright coil-springs secured to each otherand to said bars, and supportingbrackets connected to the frame and adapted tofacilitate and limit the lateral movement of said wings beneath and beyond said fabric, substantially as set forth.

3. In an interconvertible couch-bed, a suitable frame and its elevated horizontal fabric, and horizontally-movable wings formed with brackets and having a succession of upright coil-springs adapted to move under the sides of said fabric and to extend their upper surfaces outwardly beyond the margins thereof, in combination with levers projecting from one end of the frame and with push-rods for actuating said Wings, substantially as set forth.

4. The described interconvertible couchbed, comprisinga metallic supporting-frame with a yielding horizontal fabric, and horizontally-movable lateral wings, each having parallel angle-iron bars and a double range of tapering coil-springs mounted thereon, in combination with supporting-brackets for such wings, guides and stops to control and limit the movement of said brackets, and suitable actuating-levers, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALPIIONSO E. KENNEY.

Witnesses:

A. I-I. SPENCER, H. W. LADD. 

